Trial opens over Leipzig car-ramming attack that killed 2
The attack killed 2 people and injured 6 in Leipzig in May; the trial of the driver accused of carrying it out opened on Monday.
Also in:Deutsch
The attack killed 2 people and injured 6 others when a 34-year-old German man drove his car into pedestrians in Leipzig's shopping district in May, prosecutors told the court as his trial opened on Monday. He has been charged with two counts of murder and 85 counts of attempted murder. His lawyer said he would not speak for now.
On 4 May, prosecutors say, the man drove several hundred metres through the busy pedestrian zone, reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometres an hour and hitting several people in under a minute. A 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man died; 6 people aged between 21 and 87 were hurt, 2 of them seriously, a 75-year-old man and an 84-year-old woman.
Senior prosecutor Ulrich Jakob told the court the defendant had decided by the evening before the attack to hit people with his car and kill them. He brought the vehicle to a stop himself afterwards and did not resist arrest.
Prosecutors say the attack was an act of revenge: his wife had separated from him in February and later sought sole custody of their son. Before the attack, he had posted a message on WhatsApp meant to expose her, and held the same text against the inside of his car window before his arrest. "His aim was to take revenge on his wife this way," Jakob said.
Defence lawyer Malte Heise disputed that account, saying his client had felt his situation was hopeless and wanted to make his despair visible. "That doesn't excuse the act, but it changes the legal assessment," Heise said. Investigators say the man had been in voluntary psychiatric treatment days before the attack and was discharged in late April; he had previously come to police attention over threats and defamation. A preliminary assessment found no sign of reduced criminal responsibility, prosecutors said, and the court will hear from a psychiatric expert during the trial.
Prosecutors say the attack had no political or religious motive. Nine people who were hurt or lost relatives have joined the case as co-plaintiffs, and judges have scheduled 28 trial days running until 7 July next year.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel +1 The attack killed 2 people and injured 6 others in Leipzig in May.
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel Prosecutors have charged the 34-year-old driver with two counts of murder and 85 of attempted murder.
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel Prosecutors say the attack was revenge against his estranged wife; the defence disputes that motive.
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel The man was in voluntary psychiatric care days before the attack and was discharged in late April.
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel 28 trial days are scheduled, running until 7 July next year.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
The attack set off a nationwide debate in Germany about security in city centres. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities said after the attack that such acts can never be fully prevented, pointing to the tension between keeping cities open and keeping them safe. Leipzig's mayor, Burkhard Jung, said cities must remain places where people can meet freely, and the city introduced extra security measures within days of the attack.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- Stern: In Leipzig: Prozess nach Amokfahrt mit zwei Toten - Motiv im Fokus
- Tagesspiegel: In Leipzig: Prozess nach Amokfahrt mit zwei Toten - Motiv im Fokus
- Stern: Prozess um Amokfahrt durch Leipziger Fußgängerzone mit zwei Toten startet
- n-tv: Zwei Tote, viele Verletzte: Prozess stellt Frage nach Motiv des Leipziger Amokfahrers
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Questions and answers
- What happened in Leipzig in May?
- The attack killed 2 people and injured 6 when a man drove a car through a pedestrian zone, prosecutors say.
- What is the suspected motive?
- Prosecutors say it was revenge against his estranged wife; his defence lawyer disputes this.
- How long will the trial last?
- Judges have scheduled 28 hearing days, running until 7 July next year.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.